Secret message telegbaph



AVAILABLE @OPY (No Modem v 3 sheets-.smet

A. B @E F. B. JOHNSON. SECRET MESSAGE TELEGBAPH.

Patented Jan. 31,1882.

(N0 Model.)

Nif. 253.06m

#IMIIIIIMIII Y A.v P. & P. B. JOHNSON. SECRET MESSAGE TELEGRAPH.

Patented Ja11.31,'l882.

(flo Model.) l 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. F. 8v F. B. JOHNSON.

SEGRET MESSAGE TELBGRAPH.

l Patented Jan. 31,1882.

(NOModel.) 46 Sheets-Sheet 6.

' A. P. su F. B. JOHNSON. SECRET MESSAGE TELEGRAPH. I No. 253,060( Patented Jan. 31,1882;A

sheetxn) Figure l representen plnn viewof the preparing-machine; Fig. 2, adiag'rnm showing theconncntions by lwires between thel transmitting-machine and the mocking-machine, and also representing n. plan View. of .each ot' said machines with parts omitted; Fig. 3, a sectional view of theiront end of the preparingmnchine, showing the mechanism for making the indentations on the strip of paper. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the'mechanism i'or transmitting a message-without the use of the indented paper strip.; Fig. 5, s plan view, oi' a portion of thestrl p con tai ning inden i ations Fi g. a side z elevation of the receiving-machine; Eig. 7, n

lSi

longitudinal section of the same, taken through the center; and Fig. 8, a. plan ofthe device for concealing the printing in the same. Fig. 9 is a lin-rtlnl end view of the receiving-machine,

` showingthe mcchanismsfor eectiu'gthe transaSi ` strlpprodueed bythe last-mentioned modication. plaiued..

Similar letters` of reference indicate the same parts wherever they are mnd in any 0i said figures.

To indent a messagenpon u paper strip the preparing-machine shown in Figs. l, 3, and 12 is used, and it is so constructed that it can be operated by nny'personcf ordinary intelligence, whether skilled in operating telegraph-instruments or ignorant ofthe art.

'P represents the frameof the machine, and I it case or n ver, in which it'in inclosed. This cover is not shown in Fig. 1.

' G represents the strip of paper which is to Fig. 16 is a diagram hereinafter exreceive the indentatious,'and which is heid npon-a reel or spool,- H, arid is passed from thence over c plate, e, at the front oi' the instrument, thence lengthwise through the case P', and ont at sn opening at the rear end of the saine.

a is e. disk-wheel fixed upon s. shaft, I, and turned by means of a crank, a', upon the periphery ot' which are marked the letters of the alphabet, together with humerals up to 10 and the ordinary punetutiofn-eharacters,

Fixed upon the shaft' I and rotating with the wheel ais a. toothed wheei, f, having teeth equal in number to the nnmher of characters on the wheel a, each tooth being coincident with one of said characters. The said characters correspond in kind and einher with those on the priutiug-wheel ci the receivi n g; machine, i

and are placed in the same order.

b b b2 b3 are iour upright rods, pivoted rcspectively at their upper ends to the ends oi' four arms, c c' c a, which latter src pivote-u npon the bar or shaft J, while their lower ends, when they are depressed, form indentations. upon the strip G, which is fed over the platee underneath them; These rods are depressed by means ot the levers d d d, which are fulcrnmed upon the transverse bar or shaft K,(and by the levers d@ and d*,as.will be preseutlyexplained,) and are lifted by `suitable springs when the levers are raised,and each forms one of the lines ot' iudcutatins g g' gs g3 upon the strip G as it is passed underneath them, and each line or series of indentations, when the strip Gis passed through the transmitting-machine, operates automatically to bring into cir-v' cuit one'of the electro-inagnetson the receiw f ing-machine, as hereinailter described.

' The operation in preparinit,l a message is ps follows: The-letter-wheel a is iii-st setwith the last of the series of .characters thereon immediately under au index, a2, secured to the top of the case I", over an opening,r in the latter, through which the said characters are seen as they succcssivelypass underneath-it. This bcing done, the wheel a is turned hy hand until the first letter in the message tobesentcorues under the index and while itis being turned n. pallet, a, at the rear and lower end dt' the lever d, engages with each of the teeth of the wheel f, whereby tile fro'it end of said levcris lifted, and' it being piroted to the rear end of. the arm c, it depress'es the rod bf', and causes thc latter to make one of the indentations y as euch tooth passes said pallet. These iudentati-ons g2, when passed through the transmitting-machine, each bring into circuit the electro magnet on the receiving machine, whose armature rotates the printing-wheel tin the latter, and therelvy the said printing-wheel is made to rotate correspondingly with the wheel a. The characters or types on the wheel t, as before stated, correspond in kind and order to those on the wheel a, and when a message is to be received the last of the series of characters on the wheel t is ,set immediately over the impressing-roller n, (sccFig. 7,) and consequentlyA these indcntations, by opersting the'mngnet which rotates the printingwheel, briug into ositicn over the impressingroller u' the sains otter that had been brought under the inde ,'a, assbovc described. When the required letter has thus been brought uuder the index a' the outer or rear end ol the lever d isv depressed once, and the front end of the said lever helupivoted' to the rear end of the arm e, the rod is thereby depressed and makes one of theiudcntations g, which latter,

when passed through the transmitting-niaehine, each bring into circuit the magnet o'n the receiving-machine, whose armature raises the impressiugnoller uy against the printiug- From the above description lt will he understood that each indentation on these four sepa: rute lines ofindentations, as it passes through thel transmitting-nmchlne, brings into circuit one ot the electro-magnets on the receivingtnacbine through the medium ot' properly-arranged electric circuits and ci rcuit-closers, and 'o thereby the printing-wheel in the latter maby the letter-wheel awhile the message was bcingindented upon the strip'G, and the mesin transverse lines whileitis beinglnoved longitudinally through the same, and that any pci-son of ordinary intelligence can prepare his own message on the machine above described. The message thus indented upon the strip G zo may then be transmitted to its destination.

This is done 'by passing it through the transmitting-machine shown in Figs. 2 and 13. In passingit through the latter the surface which was undermost in the preparing-machine is now placed upperlnfost, so that the indentations forni bosses which project upward from the snrface ofthe paper. 1n said Figs. 2 and 13, lcrepresents a drum or cylinder, having beatings in suitable supports, F4, and being provided with a roughened or friction surface on its periphery, over which the indented strip is passed.

l l [l Pare a series of levers pivoted on a transverse bnr, H', to swing vertically, thc upper ends of which ure arranged so thatone of the lines or series of indentations or bosses, g g' g2 g, shall pass under each, and are provided with pins or projections on their under surfaces, which rest upon the strip G as it is passed over the drum L, and the lower ends ot' which, when depressed, each make cont'act with one pair of a double series ot' posts, m mmzm. and u n n2 n3. All these posts are insulated from the platform T, to which they are secured., and the series m m m2 m3 are insulated from 4 5 each other, and each connected by line-wires` 1 2'3 4, respectively, with the magnets on the receiving-machine by means of ordinary telegraph-line wires extending i'rom the sendingstation to thc receiving-station. The series n Vn' a2ac* are connected with each other and with the negative pole oi'the battery S. 'ln Fig. 2 a line-wire, fcounects the positive polepf said battery with a binding-screw,W, on the receivlinesginv Fig. 2.7

reel, E, and from vthence is passedpver the drum k, that surface ot" the same which was uppermost in the preparing-machine beingplaced upon the surface ofthesuid drum, so that the iiuientatiousforin bossespas above mentioned,

iace of thei'paper-and pass under the pins ou the levers J l l lufrespectively, thereby raising 6 5 the upper ends ot' said levers and causing their lou-er ends to make contact with the posts m causing the rod bto make one of ths'indenta' chine is caused to repeat thc movements made.

sage is printed upon the stripin said machine:

` ted linesrepresent wires connecting the mag-4 ing-machine, and thence connects with euch magnet ou the latter, as shown by ,the dotted The stripG is heid upon ab g y g'l y,which project upwardly from the snr'.

n m a' m2 n" m3 n3,r espectively, and closing the circuits. The post m is connected by wire 1 with the magnet o,which effects the longitudinalmovement of the message-strip G'. m' 1s 7o connected by wire 2 `with the magnet o', that effects the transverse mevement of Vthe printing-wheel. m is connected by wire 3 with the magnet o, that effects the rotary movement of the printing-wheel, .and mi is connected by 7 5 wire 4 with the magnet o, which operates the i impressing-roller u. These several levers ll l? P therefore i'o: m circuit-closers, and whenever they make contact with `their respective pairs of posts m a m" n' m2 n mil na they bring .into 8o circuit-,the several magnetswith which they are respectively connected., and thus bypass- .ing'the indented strip G through thetrans mittingmachine the receiving-machine is automatically operated to receive and printthe message indented thereupon in the preparingmachine.

I2 and 13 arei'riction-roners for the purpose ot" pressing the strip snugly to the surface o f the drum; R', a curved` plate to guide the 9o same from the reel E3 tothe drum; and h? are' springs attached to the lower ends ot the levers, by-which the latter are. suspended to keep them from contact with the posts, except as they are brought in contact therewith by the bosses. f

'lhe wire-connections above described are 'inserted to show the operations of the transmitting and receiving instruments, and are applicable when the instrumen-ts are near each otlr and ground-wires are not used. On Sheet No. ',Fig.16,isadiagram showing thearrangement of the circuits in the practical working of our system.

S 'represents the battery at the receivingstation, and S2 an ordinaryswitch, which latter is pnt` into operation when the message is to be received and printed at some other or more dist-ant station. We do not claim any specialdevces for changing the directions of the currents, but employ any of the well-known means suitable for the purpose, together with necessary relays and other appliances, which are well known and. in common use. 'The dotr r 5 nets with batterySv and switch S2.

The receiving-machine is shown in Figs.`2, l 6, 7, S, 9, 10, and a uiodiiicatiou thereot"iu Fig., t4.

t, is the printi'ng-'ivheeh having characters or printing-typesl corresponding to those on the letter-wheel n., as Il'Jeton'ef stated. It is fixed upon a shaft, tpjand has both a rotary movement and also a transverse movement. Its 1'o tary movement is effected by the pulsations of the armature of the 'electro-magnet o?, which operates a pallet pivotcd to said armature, that rotates atoothcd wheel, ttixed upon the shaft t', said wheel having teeth corresponding in number to thefnnmber ci' characters on the printing-wheel t and on the letter-wheel c and it is moved transversely a letter-space ige mese-ee' i eeen lie-o .iemiiis prima, and e ,einem o'io edditioo et the emi of oooh worshhy moansof o pellet;` pivoted/to the ormetnro of the' magnet o', which 'rotates o toothexi wheel? tothe other end' 'oirs'eid` shaft t o cord 4io .ottacked, which passeeox'er n. pulley, i4, and io .then attached' to-e spring, t", which letter retracts' the ohafot' whenevrthe pointing-wheel .has reached the end of o line.'y The ehoi't t slides in its. bearings, carrying the 'printinglwheelto and fro across the from@ of .the mm.

chine., ondl et enoh'fof its ends ie provided ivitix to swivel, 'so that Athe shaft con rotate without twisting the. cords attached thereto. It will be (understood thei'fihis traReversel movemeniof .the printiogmheei ie for the purpose oi' forming proper spaces or intervals between the letters in oooh worii and betweenitho worde in tho traneverse'liuee of printing on the moo that'sntelie devices 'are employed to reeeee -the piley plwhenever the-iirinting-wheel has reached the enof -ee'oh line'oi printing, eo that; iii' con berjnn beek by the'aotien oi':hje

fepriog i3 to commence another line. Any miie l obie'gleiieee moy be employed for this purpose,

Vemi, in Figal emi 6 we hzweshown one mode .in whchiit may be'. effeeted,.whieh is oe foilows: Upon' lthe eome'ebefim the'pelley pomi.

wheel: p is seen-red e toothed vrhi ei, p1; omi o `levee-p, which ie'pivoie neer ite rear emi to;

l .sin upright pomp, io prov-maint its front emi with e pawl',tiiet engagea with tlioxteeth'of the wheel p" and holds iiie maid wheei, oeweil ee the wheel i ond ypulley; p', while' the peni o6,

4'e'.hieh in pivoied io tho armatore oi' the mog and?? and .puliey p moire only ebook heli revoletienmthe wheel p, hex-ing about twice the nnmheifoi teeth that there are'letterzepaeee'in each line of printing; omi whenever: the-prio i ingwheei hes been movedxrensvereeiyio @he lextreme end' of ohne, as above iieeesiiieel, e pin xe; noon thopuliey 1)' or mpontiie voireei.

poiirixe senin, p,eeenre d upon ihelorer pi, eiiii reieeeee both eoid Wheels polio p", and vormige the spring 3io drow bach-. ihe oluif t', ood the "printing-Whoo?. io time drei-f hook-onorario ScifoeV @omonimo poeition to 'eommeneeenoiher lino of printing; but any equweieni. donieeo io Miene Y. described may be ompioyeiito reieoeethe snai?, i omdfpesnit'the printingwiieol to he retrefsieri ebthe and of eeen line.

being fixed n'pon the some eln'ii'i;`

"weigh it io'woomiee thep'rinting of the moo-` oege'nrooeee. Thefleed-roiiere g qiero roiaeiefi by the amature of the megne exi-:through the medium efe lover,"13,. whioh iopivoteii et ogre emi to thefsei'd armature, eod'provied 'ot im otherend with sag-per, 1e, that engagea ivilr the teeth of e wheel,4 12,' fixed upon the ,exu1 of ythe lower roller,- q', eod'roieteo eeid'whoeione .teotheb each stroke' of.- oeid' armatorei The ripper roller, q2, ie jonrmiijed-.ot 'oooh emi to e pair of spring-arms, 15, 'ono ofsvliieb ie oeenroci to each s id'e of the' .frame iR, -andwbich pro' @ieee a eoieient degree of friction between the. iroiers toinenrethe strip hingfed foreword "with` regularity thwopace between linee of printing oi; each stroke of eaii armature; The quill q is-inserted hvevtvveonl the two inner eorio of o, oivd'od shaft, 6,;hoving heeringef in' theh mms .7, and ieheld .by the presagire of Hongos 8 8, provided ab thea enaie of soie seamen ihm-'it .rotates with them. i This preeenre ie -eifoeied by. moons of e' peil' of' eer-red, ermo,9,

pivoted .to the frame, ee shown io Fig. 2, tire inner ende of which oro'preooed toward. eeeii .a

other by' the force of e epriog,'1i, ioserte bewioha emol! longitudinal ridge or rib, Whieo meinte and under e eheilow ireneveroe groove' l formed in eaeh portion of thoebafi 8&5 ehoin ai 3, so that when the inner ends o the orme 9 one pressed toward oooh. other 4@he eogeo 8' S are correspondingly peseed ogoinst the ende ofthe quill q, and thereby euioient. friction is produced bo insure t'io 4quill being rotaceci with regularity'. The mimi!) 5 is rotatoria iiymeeoe of epoiiey, 1l, Beenred upony one' portion thereof, which said pollev isdrvon by e, corresponding pulley on. the emiA of the lower roiier, g, by

merino of e band which ie,A sufiioieniiiy eleeir'iie eiip en the pulleys .when the eironmferenee of the roii on the quiii increases, eo that the eecioo of the feedx'ollere shell iioiabe eeote'i by the increasing bulk' 'of the oi on the quiil. The impressing-roller u iseeenreii izo the eni of e 'pivoted frame, lthe other end of Whieii. ie eiioehed tothe armmureof the magneto, eri-1i. it ie roieed by oooh stroke of eeiei armature oo ae to prese the 'strip G- ogeinei 'tine printiegwheel if.- e

Thai portion' of the strip G- that exieno be tween ille printing-wheel t omi the quill q is eisiirelyhilideofrom view by moana oi' a. piaiio or eizieixi, o, (shown mosh pleiniyiu Figs. 7, S, onq' which extends aereas the frame .E emi" between the prin bin g wbeei ondthe qniii above the strip, ond; which. io rivetedali its oidos be the Springville-15,50 that e person fetching tween their outer ende, and ere eeen proviied ehe movements of the insirnmeni, eenno eee 'the characters that here been printed. 'on the etri',`end this ohieidi q eenuoe he reniovei wie ont; also removing the oppor ieee mii e", f

(being riveted to im 'ond eoneeqnemiy the inoizrument wiiinoi operato to prima Le meoeoge niniese the said ehield ie in plof-ee. eeeosui plete, 2i), ie oecnre. to the frame nniiemeeth we' eliiehi g4, ,overwhiohplote the Sirio mveie.

senese containing water, is located yshove the frame lofthe machine and arranged to dampen the edges of the strip G as it passes over the upi per fced-roller, so that the gnmmed edges of thestrip Gfand the vdunzipeued edges ot the strip G come together and adhere as the two strips pass between th`e feed-rollers, and the printing is th ns hidden and sealed bctween'the two strips and passes frointhe instrument sealed, as shown at the rig-hief thc-ligure. A nate, q", is secured at one end to the frame 6, its other end extending under the printingwheel and above ,the strip G to the feed -rollers, thereby hiding the printing on said strip while it is traveling from the printingwheel to the said rollers. At th t.,purt"ot` the platefq" which isimmcdiatelyu der the printing-wheel Vso tandv over the imprcssirig-rolletr `wis an opening in the same to permit the stripnto come in contact with the printing-wheel, and theedgcs ofthis opening are turned down, as shown at y, soas to press upon the strip as `it .passes over the impressing-roller; and keep it snugly Iupon the sume., In .this modification the Quill `and the devices for 4operating it are of course omitted.

In our improved system we ,prefer to print the message on the strip G in `transverse lines,

ns above. described, and ns shown in Figs. 1l

und l5; but, if preferred,`the message maybe printed .in one straight line, in which case the devices and mechanisms for operating the transverscfeed of the printingnvheel will not bc used, but all the remaining parts will be used, as before described.

From the above description it'will be readily apparent thatt'he purport ot' the dispatch is not known or ascertained by anyone, except the author of the same and the person to whom it is sent, whether sent by the use of the prepared strip or sentdircct, as above set forth; `and it will also be apparent that the indenta tions or impressions may be of any suitable form-toautomaticaliy operate the transmittinginstrument, the object being to impress the message u'pon the strip in a forni which, ai

though unintelligible upon inspection, will through the medium of the transmitter and the electric circuits operate thc receiving-instrument and cause it to receive and print the message iu alphabetical or typographie-itl cher- Wirst we claim es our invention isV The system of mechanism herein described forautomaticallytransmittingsecrettelegraphic dispatches, consisting oi', first, s preparinginachine for impressing the message in unintelligible characters upon n. strip ot' paper, G, said lnnrhine consisting of a series ot im# pressing-ruderi; b' b? b3, operated by levers d d'd da d4, in connection with a letter whcelfa',

to produce three or more separate `series oi' i'ndentations, g g g g3, upon said strip G, and a feedin gdevice, constructed as describe|,to feed forward said strip while the indentations are being made; secondly, a transmitting-inachine vconsisting of adrurn,k, over which said strip is passed, and a series otlevers or circuit-eiosers,

l vl l2 L3, operated'automatically by snilhiridentations g g' g2 g3, respectively, for the purpose of opening and closing electric circuits with the receivingmachine through the medium of line-wires and batteries forming properly-sn ranged Velectric circuits, as described; and, thirdly, a receiving-machine on which the message isprinted in alphabetical characters, having a series of magnets,o o' o* o, vwhich are brought intceircuit by rneans ot' the indentations gg' g g, respectively, and which operate 'the printing-wheel t and inessagestrip G 

